The Review targeted Catholic migrants who identify as Pacific Islanders, Asians, Middle-eastern, Africans and other ethnicities apart from Europeans and Māori. The Review included obtaining demographic data from the government, conducting a survey, interviewing leaders, and facilitating an open discussion about the findings and the recommendations during a gathering of ethnic leaders last 06 August 2022. The communities who participated were the Samoans, Filipinos, Fijians, Tokelauans, Indonesians, Syro-Malabar, Assyrians, Spanish speakers, Myanmar, and Zimbabweans.
The study revealed that 26% of our parishioners are non-Māori and non-Pakeha. This figure is likely closer to 30%, as it did not include the Horowhenua District or those below age 15. We can project this statistic will only go higher in the next five years. Although the figures show that Pakeha still makes up 65% of our parishes, the rise of migrants among our pews is evident. The Review itself supports this trajectory, with 76% of migrant Catholics being below 60 years old and 85% of them considering themselves actively involved in their parishes. 69% of them were born overseas, and 90% of them live with families. A statistical computation established a strong positive relationship between their feeling of being integrated in New Zealand and being welcomed in the Church. The Church, therefore, is integral in making New Zealand a new home to migrants.